1. Album covered with brown cloth, front with photograph of the Artillery Tender "M 108", approx. 240 photos.
Service on the Artillery Tender, on the high seas, submarine L19 in port, coastal artillery, the Spanish King visiting the cruiser "Berlin", 1st Torpedo Boat Half-Flotilla, battleship "Hessen" and "Elsaß", destroyer Möwe, cruiser Nymphe, launching of the cruiser Karlsruhe, Erich Raeder and Paul von Hindenburg visiting, British submarines in port.
2. Album in blue with imprint of coat of arms and inscription "Kreuzer Königsberg", approx. 500 photos.
Cruiser Königsberg on the high seas, the crew 1931, launching of the armored cruiser Deutschland, Hindenburg on the bridge, Hindenburg on the cruiser "Königsberg", Norway 1931, visit of the Chinese princely couple on the "Königsberg", in formation at sea, adjusting torpedoes, laying smoke screen, torpedo tube operation, anti-aircraft guns in action, autumn maneuvers, Stockholm summer 1932, turrets of the "Königsberg", band on the bridge, the commanding officer, painting the hull, naval mines on board, voyage to Norway 1933, sail training ship "Gorch Fock", setting up a practice target at sea, sinking of the urn of Admiral Harder, armored ship Deutschland at sea, SA visiting the "Königsberg", shipyard period 1933-1934, entering Hamburg, target detail, voyage to England 1934, voyage to Estonia 1934, Admiral Raeder on the "Königsberg", farewell of the commanding officer Captain v. Schrader 1934, assumption of duty of the new Rear Admiral Böhme, visit of the city of Stettin, Field Marshal Mackensen on board, berth in Bremen, address by the commanding officer, in the city of Königsberg, combat inspection 1935, submarine U-1, sports on board, seaplane on board, voyage to Poland 1935, armored ship "Admiral Scheer", diver being equipped, submarine flotilla in port.
1. Certificate. Artillery weapon prize for good performance in target detail in the firing year 1932/33.
2. Certificate: Honorary certificate for good performance in the firing year 1932, firing badge 1st class cruiser "Königsberg". Both certificates are pasted in. Condition 2.

484067

€ 1.400,00

Reichsmarine / Kriegsmarine Photo Albums of a Crewmember of the Artillery Tender M. 108 Drache and Later on the Light Cruiser Königsberg

These two photo albums document the remarkable naval career of a German sailor during the crucial transitional period from the Reichsmarine to the Kriegsmarine in the 1920s and 1930s. The collection offers a unique personal insight into daily life, military exercises, and significant historical events of this epoch in German naval history.

The first album documents service aboard the Artillery Tender M 108 “Drache” (Dragon), a specialized vessel of the Reichsmarine. Artillery tenders were smaller warships primarily used for training and supporting coastal artillery, as well as serving as targets during gunnery exercises. Following the Treaty of Versailles of 1919, Germany was severely restricted in its naval capacity, and such auxiliary vessels played an important role in maintaining maritime capabilities within the imposed limitations.

The photographic documentation shows remarkable historical moments, including the visit of the Spanish King to the cruiser “Berlin,” reflecting the ongoing diplomatic relations of the Weimar Republic. The presence of Reich President Paul von Hindenburg and Admiral Erich Raeder at various naval events underscores the political significance of the navy during this period. Raeder, who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Reichsmarine and later the Kriegsmarine from 1928 to 1943, played a central role in rebuilding German naval forces.

The second, more extensive album focuses on service aboard the light cruiser “Königsberg,” one of the most modern warships of its time. The first “Königsberg” of the Königsberg-class was launched on March 26, 1927, and commissioned on April 17, 1929. With a displacement of approximately 6,650 tons and armament of nine 15cm guns in three triple turrets, she represented the first generation of German cruisers after World War I.

The extensive photo collection of approximately 500 images documents life aboard between 1931 and 1935, a period of intensive training and numerous foreign cruises. The Norway voyage of 1931, the Stockholm visit in summer 1932, the England voyage of 1934, and the Estonia voyage of 1934 were part of “showing the flag” missions that emphasized the diplomatic role of the Reichsmarine. These goodwill visits served not only to train crews but also to present the new German warships abroad.

Particularly noteworthy are the documented visits of high-ranking personalities: Hindenburg on the bridge, a Chinese princely couple, the SA (Sturmabteilung), and Field Marshal August von Mackensen, a famous military leader from World War I. These visits demonstrate how the navy served as an instrument of state representation, especially after the Nazi seizure of power in 1933.

Military-technical aspects are also well documented: torpedo exercises, anti-aircraft guns in action, autumn maneuvers, gunnery exercises, and the burial at sea of Admiral Harder's urn – a traditional ceremony honoring deceased naval officers. The photographs also show the shipyard period of 1933-1934, during which extensive maintenance work was conducted.

The two enclosed certificates attest to the personal achievements of the album's owner. The Artillery Weapons Prize certificate and the honor certificate for the 1st Class Shooting Award from the 1932/33 shooting year document the high gunnery performance of the crew, a central aspect of military evaluation of warships.

The albums also document the transformation from the Reichsmarine to the Kriegsmarine, officially enacted on June 1, 1935, with the promulgation of the Defense Law. The presence of SA members aboard and the increasing militarization of German foreign policy are clearly visible in the later photographs. Images of the pocket battleships “Deutschland” and “Admiral Scheer,” which attracted international attention, as well as the U-boat flotilla in port, show the beginning of the massive rearmament of the German navy.

These personal photo albums are valuable historical sources that document not only military aspects but also social life aboard ship, port visits, sporting activities, and the daily routine of naval personnel. They offer an authentic view of a naval epoch that led Germany from defeat in World War I to the beginning of the aggressive expansionist policy that ultimately culminated in World War II. The collection represents an important primary source for understanding the human dimension of German naval service during this pivotal period in European history.